If a citizen observes a robbery and makes an arrest, is the arrest legal?

• A. No, private citizens cannot arrest in such cases
• B. No, arrests by citizens are never legal
• C. Yes, but the arrest must be reported to police within 24 hours
• D. Yes, because the citizen saw the crime being committed

Answer: (D)

A private person can legally detain someone if they personally witness a crime in progress. In a robbery, the crime is happening in front of the citizen, so detaining the suspect and handing them to the police is permitted as a citizen’s arrest, provided the force used is reasonable and the detention is temporary. The key factor is witnessing the offense in real time, which is why this arrest is legal. Reporting to police within a set time isn’t what makes it legal, and it isn’t a universal requirement. So, yes—the arrest is legal because the citizen saw the crime being committed.